Yi Peng lantern festival, Chiang Mai, Thailand Nov 15, 2024

Yi Peng lantern festival, Chiang Mai, Thailand

As twilight descends today, Chiang Mai, Thailand"s second-largest city, will come alive with thousands of glowing lanterns for Yi Peng. Held on the full moon of the second month of the Lanna lunar calendar, this celebration is about letting go of negativity and embracing new beginnings. The highlight of the festival is the release of "khom loi" or "khom loy"—floating paper lanterns—into the night sky, which becomes a sea of warm, golden lights. People often write their hopes and dreams on the lanterns. They gather around temples and palaces to send their wishes skyward, hoping for good fortune in the year to come.

© tampatra/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Nov 15, 2018‘Ocian in view! O! The joy.’
Nov 15, 2019Mesmerizing murmuration
Nov 15, 2020What’s blooming in New Zealand?
Nov 15, 2021Manatee Awareness Month
Nov 15, 2022River otters at Acadia National Park, Maine
Nov 15, 2023Rapa Valley in Sarek National Park, Sweden
Nov 15, 2025Irohazaka Road in fall, Nikko, Tochigi, Japan

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Jan 26, 2022India Republic Day
Feb 1, 2018Stuben am Arlberg, Austria
Oct 12, 2022Fossil Day
Jan 30, 2025La Brecha de Rolando (Rolands Breach), Spain
Sep 14, 2019I am the walrus
Mar 14, 2018Happy Pi Day!
Sep 12, 2025In the Red Sea for World Dolphin Day
Mar 15, 2019A plot was afoot
Nov 4, 2018And they’re off!
Nov 28, 2018Christmas comes to New York City
Feb 16, 2021Mardi Gras flower power
Jan 14, 2020Going head-to-head with winter
Aug 25, 2024National Park Service Founders Day
Apr 16, 2020Bridges to the past
Feb 9, 2020Hollywood s big night
Dec 23, 2025Reindeer, Lapland, Finland
Jan 25, 2020Happy New Year! (Again!)
Jan 8, 2021Take this for a spin...
Dec 23, 2023Festivus
Mar 5, 2019Stompin’ with the Big Chief
Apr 9, 2026Sgwd yr Eira waterfall, Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, Wales
May 2, 2019Making it work—in Norway
Jul 31, 2022Noctilucent clouds
Aug 27, 2023Jeju Island, South Korea
Feb 21, 2019Sounds of Bach come to Bath
Nov 26, 2024Celebrating World Olive Tree Day
Apr 13, 2022Mitsumata blossoms
Jul 1, 2022Tour de France
Jun 8, 2021A day for our oceans
Oct 10, 2019A star blows a bubble